Star Fox Zero Review @ School Library Journal

Posted on May 12, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

starfoxzero Star Fox Zero was recently reviewed for School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox by Teen Librarian Alanna Graves. Though she had a bit of trouble with the Wii U game’s unorthodox controls, it got a thumbs up in the end:

Star Fox Zero was initially supposed to come out last year in 2015, but it was pushed back until April 2016. Since it was delayed for so long, Nintendo fans have been impatiently waiting for the newest installment to the Star Fox series. For this review, I asked my partner, Andres, to play the game in multiplayer mode with me because I don’t have much experience playing Star Fox games, and he has played the original N64 version.

This Week’s New Releases + Game News: May 9, 2016

Posted on May 9, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

vgl-pick The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is
Battleborn (PC, PS4, Xbox One), a “Hero Shooter” from Gearbox. According to the developer, a “Hero Shooter” is a game where players will be able to choose from over 25 different characters (some of whom that don’t even like guns) to fight back against an evil mastermind trying to control “the last star in the universe.” It’s pulpy sci-fi from the people who made the Borderlands franchise, what’s not to like?

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

Retail Releases: Battleborn
Nintendo Download: Pocket Card Jockey, Super Punch-Out!!, Style Savvy, more
PlayStation Store: Battleborn, Neverending Nightmares, Shadow Complex Remastered, more
Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Superhot, The Park, Battleborn
Xbox Games Store (Friday): Coffin Dodgers, Mystery Castle, Azkend 2: The World Beneath

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MLB The Show 16 Review @ School Library Journal

Posted on May 5, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

mlbtheshow16 It’s time to play ball! Sony recently released MLB The Show 16 (PS4, PS3), the yearly addition to their popular baseball simulation series, and it was also just reviewed for School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox by Teen Librarian Alanna Graves.

While it’s not for everybody, the baseball fans will love it:

This week I played MLB The Show 16. I’m not a fan of baseball, but I promised myself I would remain as unbiased as possible for this review. In real life, I think baseball is pretty boring (please don’t hate me), but I’ve enjoyed playing a variety of baseball video games in the past.

This Week’s New Releases + Game News: May 2, 2016

Posted on May 2, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

vgl-pick The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Tales From the Borderlands (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One), a collected edition of the episodic Borderlands spinoff. Developed by Telltale Games, players will travel back to Pandora for a story brimming with intrigue, adventure, and humor. Fans of Telltale’s previous titles will love it and fans of the Borderlands franchise will love it.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

Retail Releases: Tales From the Borderlands, Pokemon Rumble World, Sega 3D Classics Collection, more
Nintendo Download: Xenoblade Chronicles, Mini Mario & Friends, Sega 3D Classics Collection, more
PlayStation Store: Alienation, Hitman: Episode 2, The Walking Dead: Michonne – Episode 3, more
Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Hitman: Episode 2, The Walking Dead: Michonne – Episode 3, Elite Dangerous: Arena, more
Xbox Games Store (Friday): DC Universe Online, Paranautical Activity, JumpJet Rex

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Ratchet & Clank (2016) Review @ School Library Journal

Posted on April 28, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

ratchetandclank With a film adaptation now in theaters, Sony and Insomniac Games remade the original Ratchet & Clank for a new generation of players on the PS4. Teen Librarian Alanna Graves recently reviewed the game for School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox and found a great platformer/shooter for all ages:

I think this game is great for all ages. It is a great selection especially for kids because it’s a shooting game that isn’t overly violent, it’s funny, and players can select their difficulty before playing the game. As for teens, I think they would enjoy it because it’s one of those “classic” game series that has persevered over the years but doesn’t have a large mainstream presence (that is, until the movie comes out).

This Week’s New Releases + Game News: April 25, 2016

Posted on April 25, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

vgl-pick The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Star Fox Zero (Wii U), the latest space opera starring Fox McCloud. Developed and published by Nintendo, Star Fox Zero is the first new entry in the franchise in almost a decade and comes packaged with a tower defense spinoff, Star Fox Guard. Reviewers have noted that Star Fox Zero’s controls are difficult to master, but fans of the series (and Nintendo-produced games in general) will definitely want to try it out.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

Retail Releases: Star Fox Zero, Lichdom: Battlemage, Zombie Vikings, more
Nintendo Download: Star Fox Zero, Star Fox Guard, Mario Party DS, more
PlayStation Store: Invisible Inc, Lichdom: Battlemage, Axiom Verge for Vita, more
Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Lichdom: Battlemage, Battle Ages
Xbox Games Store (Friday): Rugby Challenge 3

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The Witness + Superhot Review @ Library Journal

Posted on April 22, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

thewitness Developers have been mixing puzzle-solving elements into their action games for quite a while now, and the last few years have produced a ton of titles that fit this template. More recently, two titles have really pushed the “puzzle action” genre to new heights.

Superhot is a shooter that takes place in slow motion, while The Witness is a return to the exploratory puzzle-solving that was very popular in the mid-90s.

superhot Both games (which are only available as digital downloads) were reviewed yesterday by M. Brandon Robbins at Library Journal:

Most video games have some puzzle elements, with many challenges calling for identifying patterns and creating cause-and-effect reactions. Puzzle games use this mechanic as its sole driving force, with little room for combat or exploration, and they have been some of the best over the past several years.

Recently, however, two games have changed the landscape of puzzle games in a very real way. They will be influential for years to come, and making them available to your patrons should be a major priority.

I’ve been playing a lot of Superhot lately, and even though you can’t add it to a circulating game collection, I agree that it’s an excellent choice if you have a PC set aside for gaming. Solving the “puzzle” of how to survive each level requires quick thinking and stringing together a series of winning moves makes you feel like a superhero. Highly recommended.

This Week’s New Releases + Game News: April 18, 2016

Posted on April 18, 2016 by The Video Game Librarian

vgl-pick The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is a three-way tie between Dark Souls III (PC, PS4, Xbox One), Ratchet & Clank (PS4), and Bravely Second: End Layer (3DS).

Dark Souls III is the third (and presumably, final) game in From Software’s gothic fantasy series that reminds me quite a bit of a grim and gritty take on The Legend of Zelda. Fans love its relentless difficulty and wide variety of grotesque monsters, so Dark Souls III is one adult players will definitely want.

Developer Naughty Dog has taken the original Ratchet & Clank and given it the full remake treatment to launch alongside the movie adaptation. Critics weren’t too kind to the film, but they love the game (which adds new characters, new bosses, and new weapons to the platformer-styled shenanigans), and it’s a perfect match for the “All Ages” segment of your population and adult players who remember playing the PS2 original more than ten years ago.

Finally, Bravely Second: End Layer is a retro-inspired RPG from Square Enix that, again, will appeal to adult patrons who grew up with this style of game. The large game world is even bigger in the sequel and should also keep fans of the franchise busy finding every secret and battling every monster for a very long time.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

Retail Releases: Dark Souls III, Bravely Second: End Layer, Ratchet & Clank
Nintendo Download: Bravely Second: End Layer, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, more
PlayStation Store: Dark Souls III, Ratchet & Clank, Stories: The Path of Destinies, more
Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Dark Souls III
Xbox Games Store (Friday): Soda Drinker Pro, Gear Gauntlet

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